Toxic masculinity narratives as a gateway to extremism? Radicalisation between self-improvement and ideology

Narratives centred on strength, discipline and self-optimisation are increasingly shaping digital spaces and appeal particularly to young men. Whilst this content often appears to be apolitical lifestyle advice, it is deliberately seized upon by extremist actors and linked to anti-feminist, authoritarian and anti-democratic ideologies. Extreme notions of masculinity serve as a framework for interpreting social uncertainties and as a starting point for radicalisation processes.

Based on the analyses by Julia Ebner in From fitness to fascism The event explores the interplay between gender stereotypes, the logic of digital platforms and extremist recruitment strategies. The focus is on how narratives of masculinity can contribute to the normalisation of extremist ideologies, what role social media plays in this, and what consequences this has for political education, prevention and democratic resilience.

Julia Ebner, Extremism researcher, author and consultant specialising in radicalisation, extremism and disinformation in the digital sphere. She conducts research at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) and at the University of Oxford, focusing in particular on how online communities, social media and algorithmic dynamics contribute to the spread of extremist ideologies.

Andreas Peham, A political scientist and researcher into right-wing extremism, specialising in right-wing extremism, anti-Semitism and conspiracy theories. He is a researcher at the Documentation Centre of the Austrian Resistance (DÖW) and regularly publishes and lectures on manifestations of the far right, ideological continuities and current processes of radicalisation.

Moderation
Tessa Szyszkowitz, journalist, author and historian; she is a Distinguished Fellow at the British defence think tank, the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London, and curator of the Kreisky Forum.